Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-07-06
The Old South.

The Old South.
DR.. Thomas Nelson Page, one of the
brightest intellects of this State, delivered,
at the annual meeting Of the Alumni OF
Washington and Lee University, an address
on the sold South and it's Influence IN
moulding the character, sentiment and
destiny of onr people. He gives. most
Interesting sketch of the early history of
the political and social status of our ances-
tors, and how their teachings and sentiments
had schooled and trained their descendants
for the great work they had to perform, in
establishing our liberties, and in creating a
government to make them safe and sure
OF the old South he says:
ssThe civilization which is known by this
name was as unique as it was distinct. II
combined elements of the three great civil
cations which since the dawn of history
have enlightened the werld. 1t partook of
the philosophic tone of the Grecian; of the
dominant spirit of the Roman, and of the
guardfulness of individual rights of the
Saxon civilization; and over all broeded a
softness and beauty the joint product of
chivalry and Christianity, as the sunlit
atmosphere enfolds the rugged mountain
tops, the forest, and the grassy wales, blend
ing all into one harmonious whole.
1t began almost with the first permanent
Anglo Saxon settlement of this continent
for the existence of its distinguishing char
acteristics may be traced from the very be-
ginning of the colonial period. 1t flourish
ed for two hundred and fifty years and until
it's vitality, after four years of invasion and
war, expired in the convulsive throes of de-
struction and reconstruction.
Its distinctness, like Others Of its charac-
teristics, is referable to its origin, and to its
subsequent euvironing conditions; and
whatever Of evil existed in it is chargeable
not to the race which made the civilization,
but to the outside world, which, when his
tory shall be truly written shall stand con
.yicted of having forced the cursed cause
of that evil upon it against ito repeated pro-
tests lis tendency was toward exclusive
ness and conservatism. It tolerated DO :
vasion nor even discussion Of lis rights 1t
admitted the jurisdiction Of no other tribuu i
than ITSELF And the world denied all ex,
PLANTATION, aud rebuffsd at every attempt at
interference took its revenge by declaring
that the civilization Of thu South was little
better than barblrisna, and has SO written
history. The old South to-day stands
charged with sterility, with African slavery,
and with rebellion, high crimes, and mis-
demeanors.
l traverse every charge in the indictment.
I assert that the South has been misunder-
stood and misrepresented. If judged by
the narrow standard of modern materialism
the southern civilization fell short; yet there
is another standard By which it measured
81, ELL ,Inv, fat- -
comprehensive sweep and study from a
higher plane than the low ground of ma
terialism, the rise and progress of nations,
and the development of national life, with
the elevation of its people, | assert that the
sudden supremacy Of the American people
to-day is largely due to the South, and to its
continued civilization.
It's love of freedom was instructive, and
it followed the guiding light of principle as
steadily as the wise men of the East fol.
lowed the star which they knew was lead
ing them to the presence Of God.
After presenting deliberately and ably his
views as to the results achieved by the old
South, he says:
My design at this point is to demonstrate
to you what the old South has been and
what she has effected, not only for the new
South, but for this nation, for Christendonl
and humanity.
Her part in the establishment of the
English rule on this continent have al
ready outlined let me state few of the
things that she has done for this country
and people since it was established
she made this people One hundred
years ago this nation like Athene sprarg
full panopied from her brain.
&c history that WI no VI
has in the last two hundred years taken u
step she has moved first on southern soil.
1t was the South that planned first the
cooperation of the colonies, then their con-
solidation, and finally their establishment
as free and independent States.
1t was a southerner-Henry- first
struck the note of independence. 1t was
a southern colony-Nerth Caroliua-which
first declared itself free. 1t was south
erner-N elson-who first moved and the
Convention of Virginia, a southern colony,
which first adopted the resolution "that the
delegates appointed to represent this colony
in General Congress be instructed to pre-
pose to that respectable body to declare the
United Colonies free and independent States,
absolved from all allegiance to or depend
ence on the Crown or Parliament of Great
Britain" It was southern colony which
first emblazoned on her standard the IN
blem of her principle" Vugi1aia for Con-
s'itational Gbe,tJ." TWAS seotherner who
{ wrote the Declaration Of Independence.
These acts created revolution, and i
southerner led the armies of the revoiu-
tionists to victory, and when victory had
been won it was to southern. intellect and
southern patriotism which created the Fed
eral Constitution that was due the final CON
solidation of the separated and disjointed
elements-extended along the Atlantic
coast-into one grand union OF republics
known as the United States.
From this time the South was as promi-
nent in the affairs of the nation as she had
ever been when she stood rock of defence
between the encroachments of the Crown
and the liberties of the colonies.